A ponder for you. There are lots of flies out there for Steelhead fly fishing. It kind of makes me wonder considering the old adage:
" 98 percent presentation, 2 percent fly."

There are some favourites out there, some flies used more than others. I was wondering from what you know/understand which flies you believe are the most popular/used in general by fly anglers for the below applications.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Scott K
[B]A ponder for you. There are lots of flies out there for Steelhead fly fishing. It kind of makes me wonder considering the old adage:
" 98 percent presentation, 2 percent fly."

There are some favourites out there, some flies used more than others. I was wondering from what you know/understand which flies you believe are the most popular/used in general by fly anglers for the below applications.

I agree in your 98-2 percent split however I feel that the 2% is far more important to the angler. If you have confidence in the fly, the presentation will be better. Anyways, here are my thoughts on the list.

I will have to say I do not have many patterns I stick with. I like tying so I am apt to use a different fly almost everytime I go out. Especially with speys and spider type flies. I just keep the colors consistent (bright/dark).

Will list what I am using now:

"True" (dead drifted) dry fly -

N/A

Waked surface fly -

Juro's Bunny Rat

Swung Subsurface/wet fly -

Tie between a coal car and Lelands low water Freight Train spey he ties.

Dredged Swung fly (sink tip and/or heavily weighted) -

General Practioner in dark purple or orange. Plan on trying out the Ally's shrimp this winter as well.

Hang down/slow swing -

For now I am using variations of Glasso Sol Duc Spey. Both in the original colors and in a black and purple variation.

A bait fisherman I met on a river one day was pretty generous with his information. So I responded in kind, telling him I'd picked up a few fish as well, several on dry flies. He snorted in derision, refusing to believe that a steelhead would take a dry fly.

With a degree of recklessness I bet him $ 20.00 that not only could it be done with relative ease but that I'd use a cigarette butt to demonstrate just how nondescriminating (recklessly imprudent) these fish can be.

I strapped a filter onto a fine wire hook with some tying thread (I recall it was a Player Light) slathered some Mucilin on it and after a few casts in water I knew held fish, picked up a nice 10 lb. doe. Although duly impressed, the guy mumbled something about having left his wallet in his car but he'd be sure to pay me the next time he saw me on the river....

The moral of the story (for me anyway) is-- try and collect on your bets up front.... and .......it ain't necessarily what's tied on the end of your line; it's what it's doing in the water.

Your point is well taken about what may or may not constitute a "fly". But perhaps we can agree that the use of a Butt in this particular instance might at least be considered a fly? In the ointment? Of selective trout?

I suspect you would have been a bit more impressed if it had been a Rothman Light but one must make do with what one has on hand when screaming in church on a wager.

Without a doubt presentation is the key to taking steelhead on the fly. My presentation is enhanced if I have confidence in the fly. The following flies have served me well for years; in fact I would fish with confidence on any of my usual waters summer or winters with a fly box with only these: